Suicide as the Best Option in Kate Chopins AwakeningSuicide as the Bes

Suicide as the Best Option in Kate Chopin's Awakening The Awakening, written by Kate Chopin, was considered controversial at the time it was first published in 1892 because of its intense sexual context. In fact, the critics of that era wrote in newspapers and magazines about the novel "it’s not a healthy book," "sex fiction," "we are well satisfied when Ms. Pontellier deliberately swims to her death," "an essential vulgar story," and "unhealthy introspective and morbid" (Wyatt). Edna, the main character, engages in sexual relationships outside of marriage. These encounters reveal true sexual passion to Edna, which she did not receive at home with her husband. As a result of these experiences Edna’s ability to continue living in a loveless marriage dwindles, and she eventually commits suicide. Although Edna had other options such as divorce, remaining in a loveless marriage, or simply deserting her family, suicide is most viable. One alternative, a separation, could have been hard to accomplish for Edna because of the male-dominated society that she lived in. However, it was a possibility. In fact, an author by the name of Charlotte Perkins Gilman received a divorce from her husband, Walter Stetson, prior to the creation of The Awakening. Through serious bouts with depression Gilman’s marriage to Stetson became a struggle, and her divorce was granted in 1894. Stetson received custody of their daughter Katherine. Similarly, Edna would have probably lost custody of her children, but she said it herself that she is not a mother woman ("About Charlotte Gilman"). Gilman eventually moved on and remarried in June 1900. Edna’s aspirations of marrying Robert could have possibly come true. With this possibility in mind, suici... ...escaping. What made matters worse was that Edna found a real lover that would not accept being known as the man who stole Mr. Pontellier’s wife. Edna was obviously placed in situation where she was left with all but one choice. Works Cited "About Mary Cassatt." 1999. http://www.boston.com/mfa/cassat/aboutmc.htm (4 April 2000). "About the Author: Charlotte Perkins Gilman." 1998. http://www.Trenton.edu/~verasteg/aboutcp.htm. (20 March 2000). Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. 1892. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2000. "Louisiana Civil Law: Differences Fading Over Time." 1999. http://www.theadvocate.com/help/welcome/laws.asp (18 March 2000). "The Woman’s Rights Movement." 1999. http://www.lyno.com.edu/~tlkinnon/Women’s%Rights.htm (3, March 2000). Wyatt, Neal. "Times of Kate Chopin." 1995. http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/eng384/kate.htm (21 March 2000).

How to Choose a Good Book Essay

When adults select books for children, we want to pick out good ones. The problem is, we’re not always sure what a â€Å"good book† means and just tend to choose be beneficial and desirable for young readers. We forge ahead, sometimes unaware of how we use to determine what is â€Å"good.† Adults choose the books according to a standard- a criteria that we may not be aware exactly why we make our choices, considering the biases we respond to most: The lessons the books teach, those large colorful illustrations, the absence of harshness, scariness and swearing, the simple vocabulary used, the familiar content presented to the schema of the child and the political correctness it has to offer in which are sometimes narrow and misguided, a reason to be a problem within how they choose. For some people however, it is a necessary thing to consider on how readers respond to a certain book in order to recognize whether it is â€Å"good† or â€Å"not†. However this raises the different perspectives presented upon the books since all people think in different ways. How the readers are attracted to a book depends on the rationalizing ability of their minds regarding a topic. Therefore considering a fact that the â€Å"goodness† of a book depends on how the reader comments upon it. The quality of the book is reflected from how a critical analysis evaluates the book’s style and language, character, plot, setting, theme, tone, point of view, illustrations, mood, pacing, design and layout, and accuracy. All of which are important to consider. Critics focus mostly on how words are chosen and arranged, unique and believable techniques of characterizations, the total outcome of the story as the conflict takes place, and how the author strategizes upon the manipulation of the readers’ imagination to make the emotional reality true. The taste of how readers choose a genre of a story is also varied. For one thing, the multi-awarded Wind in Willows is judged to be quality literature  for children as it delineates the four main characters, contains satisfying action sequences and is told in a rich, varied language. However, some children tend to not find themselves engrossed in the story when they tried to read it. Goosebumps books on the other hand had won no literary awards and yet thousands of children sail through the series and report that each Goosebumps story is a good book, disregarding also the fact that some adults may think that children that read such formulaic, shallow stories should at least feel shame for doing so. In the end, the question of â€Å"good book† does not depend on awards it claimed, titles that have proven themselves overtime and the highest sale figures. The only list we can trust without reservation is our own.

William Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet - 1186 Words

When discussing classic love stories, William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is often included in the conversation. The tragic story of the â€Å"star-crossed lovers† (Shakespeare 6) is taught in high schools and studied in colleges. Its poetry has graced many stages and silver screens. Romeo and Juliet is also often reimagined for a modern audience. One such interpretation is West Side Story. Written by Stephen Sondheim, it made its Hollywood debut in 1961 under directors Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise. Instead of feuding families in Verona, West Side Story touts rival gangs in New York City. Although the plots of West Side Story and Romeo and Juliet themselves seem interchangeable, key differences exist that make West Side Story a†¦show more content†¦West Side Story and Romeo and Juliet both delve into battle rather quickly, making haste to display the deadly feuds between characters. This fight happens before any dialogue occurs, but it still direct ly mirrors how the initial fight in Romeo and Juliet occurs. Instead of exchanging banter, battles between the Jets and Sharks â€Å"are mild at first: a boy being tripped up, or being sandbagged with a flour sack or even spit on† (Sondheim 1.1). The early fighters of Romeo and Juliet, on the other hand, are not immediately physical with each other, aside from Sampson rudely biting his thumb toward Abram (Shakespeare 1.1.44). Moving on from the fight, Romeo and Mercutio plot to sneak into the Capulet’s ball, while Tony is convinced to go to the dance in the gymnasium. Romeo and Tony, however, have similar premonitions of â€Å"some consequence yet hanging in the stars† (1.4.114), â€Å"a miracle due† (Sondheim 1.2), ultimately predicting that fate will have a hand in the night. As balconies turn into fire escapes, female love interests are thought to be dead, and feuds end, West Side Story continues to emulate Romeo and Juliet almost seamlessly, but not quite flawlessly. A few instances seen in West Side Story ensure its independence from the Shakespearean love-story. These differences, however, strengthen West Side Story as a modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet marry each other, but Tony